Awareness and Knowledge Regarding Hepatitis B Infection, Mode of Transmission and Prevention among People of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Abstract

The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. Every year 600,000 people die of illness related to HBV infection. This research is an attempt to study the awareness of HBV infection, modes of transmission and prevention among students, hospital personnel and public of Cameroon highlands of Malaysia. Majority of the hospital personnel are well aware of this infection and have adequate knowledge. More than 92% of them are vaccinated against HBV. In all, 70% of the total respondents (78% female and 62% male) are aware of the Hepatitis B virus infection term, 57% of them know its cause, while 59% of respondents are aware of the mode of transmission of the infection A total of 74% of them admit of protecting themselves/taking precautions to avoid the infection. In spite of a number of health education campaigns conducted in different platforms including in education institutes and wide media coverage, still some people especially who are not well educated and not exposed to much of literature like newspapers, magazines, and health-related books are not aware of this infection, modes of transmission and vaccination. Those who are less than 20 years of age are covered in the immunization schedule. There is a need for continuous efforts to educate and vaccinate those who are not covered in childhood immunization schedule and have not taken vaccination.

Keywords: Vaccination, Hepatitis B virus, awareness, knowledge, mode of transmission